CD Reviews

Jazz, bossa, and acid jazz/dance/ from a musical genius

Stephanie | New York | 10/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this album; it is a classic. I've listened to it many hundreds of times and it never loses intensity for me. It was the album that introduced me to Isabelle Antena. Since then I've discovered others that have confirmed to me that she is a major musical talent who has been neglected both here and in France. A look at the discography on her website gives an idea of the incredible output of this artist ... but I want to talk about Hoping for Love.

The best thing about it is Isabelle Antena's wonderful voice: clear, smooth and cool and classy, yet at the same time, soft,warm and intimate. The musicians she uses on this are all excellent jazz musicians. There are many beautiful solos or even short riffs which are perfect for the songs.

Some highlights of the songs:. (I am going by the track order in the LTM reissue from darla records, so it might not be the same as earlier releases): #1-- "Le poisson des mers du sud" is a soft bossa with Isabelle singing at her coolest. The piano joins in after the first verse with a voice of its own. The song is a classic, one which seems to best define her sound. But she has other sounds which I think are equally as good.

#2-4 and 6 are examples of another one of those -- her jazz sound. Lovely tunes in interesting arrangements: great vocals, which alternate between harmonies and solo, and expert instrumentalists. #3, Melodie, is one of my favourites -- I loved it immediately when I heard it. Slipped in between are some returns of the latin beat, with #5 being a small gem of only a little over a minute long. It's a teaser -- but after the breezy jazz of #6, suddenly the latin beat returns and this time it isn't just cool bossa or a teaser, but suddenly in #7, we are in a rainforest or jungle, the tune returns, the drums grow louder and Isabelle's voice seems darker, and richer, singing Otra Bebera, intense and lovely. It steams. Probably my windows become fogged from this, I am too absorbed to check.

Afterwards, the album becomes more electric -- dance or acid jazz -- and #8, 9 and 10 are fantastic songs with extremely tight instrumentals and vocals. 9 & 10 are in English. Even though I like the French songs the best (#8 La tete contre les murs might just be the best song on the album), #9, Laying on the sofa and #10, Naughty naughty are the very best of their genre and I never tire of listening to them. There are some remixes and versions of a couple of the songs in English as bonus tracks."